Moving to Taree had always been on Julie’s* bucket list. In 2024, she realised her dream of owning and restoring a vintage home and starting a bed-and-breakfast homestay on her property.

Then non-stop rainfall began to overwhelm the river systems running through Taree and the surrounding area. Julie recalls the rapid and visible rise of water towards her property, “The whole time I was watching the ‘Hazards Near Me’ app. Further up there was a red zone, but not where we were. I could see the flood coming up; it just didn’t make sense.”

That evening, Julie made the heartbreaking decision to leave her dream behind. Over the next 48 hours, floodwater encircled her property, eventually rising nearly a metre past the raised floors of her home and B&B homestays. “It’s just devastating; it was three days before we were allowed back into our home. And you come back to see all your belongings just gone… This is my dream home and coming back here and seeing it, like, this is just, it’s heartbreaking.”

For two weeks Julie bore the weight of the disaster on her own. Day after day, as thick mud remained through the house, she could only stare helplessly at her damaged belongings and livelihood lying on the kerbside. She shared her tragic breakdown with our team. “We dropped into the little shop in Cundletown, and the woman in there knows me, and I was covered in mud. She gave me a hug, and I just broke down.”

With the help of a friend, they sought help at the local recovery centre where Julie was put in contact with Samaritan’s Purse. Over the next three days, scores of volunteers arrived to provide much needed assistance. Among those who turned up to help was a local Year-11 group from Mid-Coast Christian College. Metre by metre, room by room, they worked through her home and property, scrubbing and sanitising walls, floors and belongings, restoring dignity to her pride and joy.

“Within a day, day or two, I got a phone call saying we’re coming to help. I was just like, thank you, God, thank you.”

“I can’t even describe the feeling when I came back here. It’s probably the best feeling I’ve ever had. My heart was just full of so much love and gratitude.”

*Name changed for resident’s privacy.

Throughout May and June, over 330 volunteers have responded in Jesus’ Name to people affected by severe flooding in NSW. Hope has been restored to more than 120 families through the love of volunteers serving in the communities of greatest need.

Your prayers and generosity have enabled volunteers to share God’s love in the Mid-North Coast in the midst of disaster.